Firstly, Deitch Project’s huge and amazing layout along with the quality of light makes it pretty much the ultimate gallery in NYC to experience paintings. This time around I caught Kristin Baker’s show which is up until December 19th.
Kristin Baker’s paintings at once will stimulate that Retina of yours so much so you might find you can’t turn your eye away! They are both intense and dynamic and full of physicality which makes them very attractive. When you find out her father is an amateur race driver and that she holds incredible enthusiasm for, and personal involvement with the sport you then begin to get it even more. Baker is fascinated by the connection between painting and automobile racing, particularly by the contrast between accident versus control that characterizes both pursuits.
These pieces of both small and large-scale combine illusionistic and pictorial space as well as artificial forms and surfaces. Her beautiful shapes are made by layering troweled acrylic she then scrapes, rubs and smooths to create forms and landscapes. You want some color! You got it! Her bright colors are bold and clean never muddy giving them that sharpness you just can’t get enough of. I think I might have to be a little speed racer and race back to this show again!
